Habib Bourguiba

Habib Bourguiba (3 August 1903-6 April 2000) was President of Tunisia from 25 July 1957 to 7 November 1987, succeeding Muhammad VIII of Tunisia and preceding Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Biography
Habib Bourguiba was born on 3 August 1903 in Monastir, French Tunisia, and he was a lawyer in France during the 1920s before returning to Tunisia and becoming an activist in the nationalist movement. In 1934, he helped in founding the Neo Destour socialist party, and in 1956 he helped in overthrowing Muhammad VIII of Tunisia's government and proclaiming a republic. He was President of Tunisia for 30 years, improving the education system, gender equality, and having a neutral foreign policy, but he had a cult of personality and corruption and Islamism beset the government towards the end of his presidency. Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali removed him from office, and he died in 2000 in Monastir.